Food Safety News

The FAO is attempting to raise awareness and understanding of early warning tools and systems in food safety to support their wider use.

Early warning systems play a role in reducing the potential risks from various hazards, said the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in a recent report.

The capability to identify emerging food safety risks and to provide timely warnings to allow for mitigation measures to be taken is useful for national and international authorities dealing with food safety.

There has been a shift from reactive to proactive systems for issues that may require targeted monitoring, surveillance, research, and regulation. Modern digital warning tools are fed by numerous, real-time, and diverse data and use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques.

Example tools and issues to overcome

The report covers Big Data, AI applications, biosensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain technologies, and machine learning. Gaps and barriers to the uptake of such tools and technical and socioeconomic challenges are also addressed.

The document was developed by FAO and Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR). Work included a literature review, an online survey with 83 responses from 59 countries and virtual workshops.

Issues with AI were the long training time, plus ethical and policy challenges. For Big Data, there was insufficient data quality and quantity in food safety and limited data from the private sector. Blockchain has a high implementation cost, while crowdsourcing could lead to poor data quality caused by inaccurate information. For remote sensing, there are user difficulties in understanding the collected data, and there can be a lot of irrelevant data with text mining.

Findings from the online survey and workshops found other barriers for low and middle-income countries were the absence of financial, human, and material resources. Challenges included insufficient monitoring of foodborne hazards and a lack of technologies and databases to traceback pathogens. Participants mentioned a lack of coordination between agencies and limited financial support.

From a technical perspective, there is a need for infrastructure and facilities for data collection, storage, and processing. Reliable internet access and wireless connectivity in LMICs is often a problem. Also, in most cases, an extensive computational infrastructure capable of processing large volumes of diverse datasets is necessary.

WHO workshop

Meanwhile, outcomes from an event for some Asian nations on the rapid exchange of information through the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) have been published.

WHO, FAO and INFOSAN organized the workshop for Central Asian countries in Kazakhstan in May 2023.  Central Asian countries‎ have experienced significant economic shifts in the past two decades, leading to reduced dependence on domestic agriculture and increased reliance on food imports.

Past evaluations have highlighted the need to strengthen the region’s incident and emergency response systems, including risk communication and participation in INFOSAN.

Participants said barriers to information sharing during food safety emergencies were the absence of a coordinating agency and mutually recognized standard operating procedures, a reluctance to share information, confidentiality concerns, the lack of specialist training, language barriers, poor internet connectivity, and cultural differences.

Speakers gave perspectives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

In Kazakhstan, efforts are underway to improve the risk management system, introduce early warning and response programs, upgrade the laboratory service, and train and certify staff.

Kyrgyzstan does not currently have specific regulations for responding to food safety emergencies. The country has piloted an automated system for epidemiological surveillance. One example of incident response covered food poisoning traced to contaminated sushi. Salmonella Enteritidis was detected in raw salmon, which caused illness in more than 350 people. Prompt action was taken domestically, but neighboring countries were not informed.

Foodborne diseases are a recurring issue in Tajikistan, primarily due to a lack of awareness by consumers about the precautions to take when consuming food. There is a need to enhance the surveillance system in the country, monitor public catering networks, and improve compliance with sanitary standards throughout the supply chain.

Turkmenistan has a monitoring and surveillance system to ensure food safety. Data related to foodborne illnesses, outbreaks, and other incidents are collected and analyzed using a standardized reporting form. In Uzbekistan, instructions around food poisoning incidents have been revised to align with the requirements of the International Health Regulations, while hygiene standards have also been reviewed and updated. Laws are in place to regulate labs involved in food safety.

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This past Monday brought Nebraska’s coldest snap in three years, with frigid temperatures and enough snow and sleet to make roads dangerous.  Staying home was the best defense from the bitter Arctic cold.

But USDA meat inspectors who opted not to go to work on one of those dangerous winter days were quick to hear about.    It was hard to miss that the local Congressman wrote the Secretary of Agriculture about their absences.

On the same Monday, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood, R-NE, wrote Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about what he said were “troubling reports” about USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service personnel not reporting for work at the Tyson Pork Plant in Madison, NE.

“Let me be clear,” Flood wrote.  “This is unacceptable and must be remedied immediately. 

Flood’s letter does not mention any complaints he might have received from Tyson managers about any missing USDA inspectors. Still, no pork from human consumption could be produced unless USDA inspectors are present.

Still, the weather was not bothering Flood nearly as much as shift-missing inspectors.

“If our communities can show up to work, the USDA can too, “ he wrote.  “Our pork producers are ready and waiting; our plant wants to operate; the USDA must step up to the plate and fulfill its mission to serve rural America.”

Flood also wrote, “FSIS inspectors are essential employees; they are integral to ensuring consumer safety and disease prevention” and that the inspectors are required to operate meat and poultry processing facilities across the country, and without them, the plant shuts down.”

The last time filling inspector shifts became an issue was early in the pandemic.

Flood did say the safety of Nebraskans is his “top priority,” and he understands “taking necessary steps” in light of “challenging weather.”

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Contaminated lamb meat caused a Salmonella outbreak in a minority ethnic community in Wales, according to researchers.

In July 2021, Public Health Wales received two notifications of Salmonella. Both patients had attended a barbecue in a park in Cardiff to celebrate Eid al–Adha, two days earlier. Other cases related to the barbecue were found and an outbreak investigation was started.

The barbecue was attended by members of the North African community. On the same day, smaller lunches were held in three homes. Many people went to both a lunch and the barbecue.

A traditional raw liver dish called marara, served at the barbecue, was the likely vehicle for infection. Marara is made from raw liver, usually cut into strips, washed in lemon juice and vinegar, and marinated in herbs, spices, and peanut butter. Meat and offal came from two local butchers with the same supplier and samples had identical whole genome sequences as cases.

In total, 22 cases were identified in the outbreak, of which five were confirmed and 17 were probable Salmonella Typhimurium cases, according to the study published in the journal Epidemiology and Infection.  

Cross contamination factor

Five people developed symptoms in the eight days following the barbecue, which suggests person-to-person transmission since some of them had attended the barbecue but did not become unwell until after the incubation period for salmonellosis.

Many cases were severely unwell, with 12 seeking emergency hospital care and six being admitted overnight. One patient needed treatment in an intensive care unit.

One respondent noted gastrointestinal sickness in a barbecue attendee and resident in their household, with symptoms starting before the barbecue. The barbecue food was prepared at home by eight people. It was transported, not chilled, to consume at the evening barbecue, and included marinated uncooked lamb, several side dishes, and a number of traditional dishes.

The religious practice involving animal slaughter for Eid al-Adha is called Qurbani. The day of the barbecue was very hot, plus the raw liver and lamb was left unchilled for a long period.

Questionnaire responses indicated that some lamb cooked on the barbecue was pink inside and that marinade from the raw liver was used as a dip for other food. One person used the plate the raw liver was served on to eat their meal. All of this offers multiple opportunities for cross-contamination, said scientists.

Sequences from 11 samples of leftover raw lamb were genetically indistinguishable from one another, and from those in the five human isolates from barbecue attendees.

Three people had more than one pathogen in their stool sample including two co-infections with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and one with Campylobacter. Identical E. coli sequences to those in patients were found from samples taken from the butchers and supplying abattoir.

Wider ongoing outbreak

Microbiological evidence suggests there was widespread contamination of sheep meat consumed at the barbecue, and that cross-contamination with other dishes occurred. However, it was not possible to establish where contamination occurred in the food chain.

The five sequenced cases are part of a larger ongoing cluster with cases since 2018. They are spread across Wales, Scotland, London, and the South West and Midlands of England. At least two cases in the wider cluster were people with occupational contact with sheep farms, suggesting a possible transmission chain with a farm origin. Investigations are ongoing to find the source.

An educational session was held during the Eid al-Adha festival which included members of the community that eat the traditional marara dish and others that celebrate Eid al-Adha. Key food safety and hygiene messages were presented followed by a conversation. The session received positive feedback from participants. A communication campaign, noting different cultural practices, was developed with the affected community.

“Future outbreak investigations should be relevant to the community affected by considering dishes beyond those found in routine questionnaires,” said scientists.

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Selinsgrove, PA-based BrightFarms has announced the recall of spinach grown by its supplier Element Farms in their Pompton Plains, New Jersey farm and distributed under the BrightFarms brand because the spinach has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Due to potential cross-contamination, BrightFarms also recalls a limited quantity of four salad kit products from its Selinsgrove, PA, facility.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause severe and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any recalled product and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has eaten recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop. 

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses. 

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

The recalled products were distributed to retailers in seven states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The products come in 4-oz, clear plastic containers. Information about the “best by” date, UPC, and facility code can be found at the bottom of the package. Pictures to assist customers in identifying the recalled products are found at the end of this announcement.

ProductOunceUPC
CodesFacility
CodeBest-By DateBrightFarms Baby Spinach3.5oz8-57062-00492-3PEN81/11/2024,
1/13/2024,
1/18/2024,
1/20/2024BrightFarms Mediterranean
Crunch Kit6.35oz8-50051-82501-1PEN41/15/2024,
1/20/2024BrightFarms Chickpea Caesar
Crunch Kit6.50oz8-57062-00415-2PEN41/15/2024,
1/20/2024BrightFarms Bacon Ranch
Crunch Kit6.70oz8-57062-00416-9PEN41/15/2024BrightFarms Southwest
Chipotle5.85oz8-50051-82500-4PEN41/15/2024

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The spinach recall was initiated after routine sampling conducted by Element Farms yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes. Due to potential cross-contamination at BrightFarms’s Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania facility, BrightFarms recalls a limited quantity of four select salad kit products. No positive test results or reported illness have been received on those products.

As a result of today’s recall, the company has temporarily suspended the distribution of Element Farms-grown spinach.

Retailers have been instructed to remove all recalled products from store shelves. Consumers who have purchased the affected products should not consume the products and discard them or present a photo of the product or receipt to their place of purchase for a full refund and then discard them.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning restaurants and food retailers in California that have recently purchased oysters from Sociedad Acuicola GolPac (MX 06 SP) harvested from Bahia Salina, Sonora, Mexico on 12/18/2023 or 12/27/2023.

The FDA alert is also for consumers in California who have recently consumed oysters in San Diego or Los Angeles County restaurants sourced from Sociedad Acuicola GolPac (MX 06 SP) harvested from Bahia Salina, Sonora, Mexico on 12/18/2023 or 12/27/2023.

The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and to dispose of oysters and consumers not to eat oysters from Sociedad Acuicola GolPac (MX 06 SP) harvested from Bahia Salina, Sonora, Mexico on 12/18/2023 or 12/27/2023 because they may be contaminated with norovirus.

Oysters contaminated with norovirus can cause illness if eaten raw, and potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems. Food containing norovirus may look, smell, and taste normal. Consumers of these products experiencing symptoms of illness should contact their healthcare provider and report their symptoms to their local Health Department. Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever may be associated with gastroenteritis infections caused by this organism.

People of all ages can get infected and sick with norovirus. The most common symptoms of norovirus are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Other symptoms include fever, headache, and body aches.

A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after exposure to norovirus. 

Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days.

If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill and vomit or have diarrhea many times a day. This can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses. Symptoms of dehydration include decreased urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up. Dehydrated children may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.

Anyone who becomes severely dehydrated should call a healthcare provider.

The California Department of Public Health on Jan 10 notified the FDA of an outbreak of Norovirus in San Diego County that has been linked to the consumption of oysters traced back to a specific harvest location in Mexico. 

An investigation is ongoing, and the number of illnesses is being tracked. Mexican Shellfish Authorities have investigated the source of the illnesses and closed the Bahia Salina growing area to harvest on 1/12/2024.

Recommendations 

Restaurants and retailers should also be aware that shellfish may be a source of pathogens and should control the potential for cross-contamination of food processing equipment and the food processing environment. They should follow the steps below:

• Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
• Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who have processed and packaged potentially contaminated products need to be concerned about cross-contamination of cutting surfaces and utensils through contact with the potentially contaminated products.
• Retailers that have sold bulk products should clean and sanitize the containers used to hold the product.
• Regularly cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.

Consumers should not eat the potentially contaminated oysters. Consumers should contact their healthcare provider to report their symptoms and receive care.

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The CDC is reporting that more than 350 children are now involved in an outbreak of lead poisoning traced to pouches of cinnamon applesauce.

The outbreak was first announced in October after the Food and Drug Administration received information from North Carolina officials in September about children with elevated levels of lead in their blood. Traceback work showed a common source — cinnamon applesauce sold in pouches.

The implicated applesauce was made in Ecuador by Austrofoods. Negasmart supplied the cinnamon in the applesauce pouches to Austrofoods. Officials found the lead in the cinnamon was 2,000 times the amount considered safe. Elevated levels of chromium were also found in the product.

In an update last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported it is investigating 354 cases of lead poisoning: Confirmed cases 93, probable cases 233, and suspect cases 28. The patients are spread across 41 states. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reporting that it is investigating 89 cases with patients ranging in age from less than one to 53 years old, with the median age being one year old. There could be some overlap so the CDC and FDA numbers should not be added together.

Three brands of cinnamon applesauce pouches have been recalled. They are Wanabana, Schnucks and Weis. The pouches were sold individually nationwide. Some of the Schnucks pouches were sold in variety packs. All dates and lots of the products are subject to recall. (see photos above).

The FDA and CDC recommend that parents not use the applesauce and throw it away or return it to the place of purchase. The applesauce has a very long shelf life, so consumers urge the public to check their homes for the recalled products.

About lead poisoning
Parents and caretakers should consult a healthcare provider and ask for blood tests if they suspect a child may have been exposed to the recalled cinnamon applesauce products. 

Short-term exposure to lead could result in the following symptoms: headache, abdominal pain/colic, vomiting, and anemia. 

Longer-term exposure could result in additional symptoms: irritability, lethargy, fatigue, muscle aches or muscle prickling/burning, constipation, difficulty concentrating/muscular weakness, tremors, and weight loss. 

Permanent consequences can lead to developmental delays and brain damage.

About chromium exposure
Symptoms of chromium exposure from eating contaminated food may be nonspecific. Some people might not experience any symptoms. Ingestion of chromium exceeding dietary recommendations may result in abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, and renal and hepatic dysfunction.

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 The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a single Certificate of Appealability (COA) on Jan. 10 in the Motion 2255 Habeas Petition sought by former peanut broker Michael Parnell.

The order by the Atlanta-based appellate court sets Feb.20, 2024, as the deadline for Parnell’s attorney to file an appellant’s brief.  The government’s response is due 30 days later.

Michael Parnell, 65, is a resident of the low-security federal lockup located at Butner, NC.   He’s been in federal custody since 2015 after a jury convicted him of 31 charges related to the submission of false salmonella testing results to the FDA in his role as a peanut broker for the production plant located in Blakely, GA. 

Peanuts produced at that plant were linked in 2008-09 to a nationwide Salmonella outbreak. Hundreds were sickened and several patients died. His company, P.P. Sales, shipped peanut products from the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) to Kellogg’s.

Parnell filed a Motion 2255 Habeas Petition in 2019 seeking to overturn his convictions and 240-month sentence. In 2021, he was granted an evidentiary hearing in open court before the Magistrate Judge for Georgia’s Middle District Court.

The former peanut broker claimed he received ineffective assistance when his trial attorneys failed to seek a change of venue for his 2014 jury trial, and his defense attorneys failed to rebut loss and victim calculations and risk of injury enhancement put forth by the government.

After the District Court judges denied Parnell’s petition, the appellate court required one or more COAs to be reviewed.

“To obtain a COA, a movant must make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right,” according to the Jan 10 order.

“If the District Court denied a constitutional claim on the merits, the movant must demonstrate that ‘reasonable jurists would find the district court’s assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong’ or that the issues ‘deserve encouragement to proceed further,’ ” the order continues.

The 11th Circuit said it had granted COAs for the Motion 2255 Habeas Petition filed by 69-year-old Stewart Parnell, the former CEO of the now defunct PCA, who is Michael’s brother.  

Stewart Parnell’s attorney could argue issues involving pretrial publicity and jury prejudice. The order for Michael Parnell grants a COA for the first issue involving jury prejudice based on adverse pre-trial publicity, but “a COA is DENIED as to Ground 2 because reasonable jurists would not debate its denial,”  according to the order.

The order says the District Court found Parnell’s attorneys “were not deficient and any deficiency did not prejudice (Stewart) Parnell.”

The federal prison at Hazelton, WV, is the current home of Stewart Parnell, whose release date is July 26, 2038.

According to attorney Ann Fitz, who practices federal criminal and appellate law in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals,  2255 habeas petitions are a post-conviction remedy (also known as a Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct a Sentence). They are available to defendants convicted in federal court and currently in custody — either in prison or supervised release.

Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, a defendant may seek relief because “the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States,” according to Fitz.

2255 habeas petitions are most commonly used to argue ineffective counsel assistance in violating the 6th Amendment.

To warrant relief under § 2255, the errors of which the movant complains must amount to a fundamental miscarriage of justice.

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Whole genome sequencing (WGS) by companies in Norway will likely be used for certain samples or in particular situations instead of all the time, according to a report.

The report looks at the legal rules that may affect WGS implementation of bacterial pathogens in the food industry, using Listeria monocytogenes as a case study.

Work was part of the PathoSeq project that began in 2019 and ended in 2023. It involved Nofima, the University of Oslo, the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria and companies in the meat and salmon sector.

The EU legal framework distinguishes between ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and food that is supposed to be cooked before consumption and between foods supporting the growth of Listeria and those that don’t. Stricter rules are applied for smoked salmon, sushi, deli meat, and soft cheeses.

Under EU law, firms are not obligated to notify the authorities upon detection of Listeria monocytogenes in their processing environments. Notification occurs mainly if foodstuff with Listeria has been sent to the market above the legal maximum levels.

Understanding findings
Detailed genomic sequences can allow companies to map the bacterial variants within their factories and discover sources and spread, enabling more informed risk assessments, control measures, and targeted responses, said experts.

Sequencing takes days or weeks, which is too long to be useful as part of daily hygiene monitoring or product release programs. Also, analyses may be too expensive for companies, especially compared to only considering the presence or absence of Listeria, which is sufficient to comply with current regulations.

From interviews, Norwegian firms generally have not yet applied WGS as part of their internal Listeria monocytogenes control programs. However, many companies were interested in the technology and the information it could provide.

Most interviewees said suppliers would not notify them upon detection of Listeria monocytogenes. Suppliers are not legally required to provide such information. Firms also don’t sample every batch of raw materials they receive. However, notice from suppliers appears common for the detection of Salmonella.

One producer of RTE fish products said it used to export to the U.S. but stopped since should any Listeria monocytogenes be detected during a control, the whole container would be returned or destroyed, presenting too high an economic risk for the business. While the U.S. has a zero-tolerance approach, EU law permits Listeria up to 100 CFU/g at the end of the shelf life in RTE products.

Data concerns
Concerns may relate to using WGS data, particularly how it may be interpreted and acted upon by regulatory authorities. Data, including metadata, needs to be assessed by experts, and there are risks of misinterpretation and overreaction. Industry interviews showed that trust in authorities’ competence and use of WGS data was low and fragile. They also worry about what other firms or customers might discover about their factories and food safety controls.

Highly similar Listeria monocytogenes may exist independently in multiple locations simultaneously, and many firms have the same supplier. Biases may arise because sampling is not performed to the same extent or equally by all parties.

Companies feared being incorrectly blamed and suffering the financial and reputational consequences if they were not the source of an outbreak.

Standards for assessing the data may also differ, for instance, regarding how many genetic differences one considers can exist between isolates while concluding that they originate from a common contamination source.

One example was given of a company requesting WGS data from Mattilsynet. Only limited data was provided, and the report said refusing to grant companies access risks increasing the divide and hindering their willingness to cooperate.

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— OPINION —

By Steven Grossman, Executive Director of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA.

What started as a crisis over the safety and supply of infant formula became a wide-ranging review of FDA’s food programs by the Reagan-Udall Foundation. In turn, those led to the creation of a new post, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, and the publication of a sweeping reorganization plan published on Dec. 13, 2023 (proposed changes and updates).

To learn more about the re-organization plan and its impact on food and nutrition programs, you are invited to a webinar on January 19 from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Register here.

Reflecting the importance of the reorganization plan — and the benefit to FDA of discussing the plan with stakeholders — the agency is providing the Alliance for a Stronger FDA with an all-star set of speakers.  

Presentations by:  

• Principal Deputy Commissioner Janet Woodcock
• Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones
• Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Michael Rogers 
• Chief Scientist Namandje Bumpus (who will become Principal Deputy Commissioner in February)

Available to assist with questions will be Acting CFSAN Director Don Prater and Deputy Commissioner for Operations/COO Jim Sigg. 

The co-moderators on behalf of the Alliance will be: 

• Alliance Board member Sarah Sorscher of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and 
• John Taylor, former Acting Deputy Commissioner for Global Regulatory Operations and Policy and member of the Reagan-Udall Foundation review panel. 

The Alliance for a Stronger FDA is a multi-stakeholder coalition that advocates for increased FDA resources. We have played a key role in the doubling of FDA’s taxpayer funding.

Our other goal is to educate policymakers, media, and stakeholders about FDA’s growing mission and increased responsibilities. As part of that effort, we ran 18 webinars in 2023, all featuring senior FDA leadership. Transcripts of our webinars can be found here: www.strengthenfda.org/events.

Other Alliance webinars that are coming up soon: 

• Dr. Robert Califf, FDA Commissioner, Jan. 31 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Register here.
• Kimberlee Trzeciak, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs, Febr. 8 at 3 p.m. Register here

 Our webinars are free — all you have to do is register.  For more information, contact Steven Grossman at sgrossman@strengthenfda.org or Ben Dash at bdash@ofwlaw.com  

About the Alliance: The Alliance for a Stronger FDA, created in 2007,  is a multi-stakeholder organization with 150+ members devoted to advocating for increased appropriations for the FDA and educating policymakers and the public about the FDA’s mission and responsibilities. The Alliance’s unique coalition of patient and consumer groups and industry mirrors FDA’s unique role in public health, safety and commerce.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News,click here)

A senator has called for the creation of an agency to deal with public health after almost 3,000 people fell ill in the Philippines.

Senator Win Gatchalian is co-author of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act, which seeks to create such an agency. The proposed center would be the technical authority on forecasting, analysis, strategy, and standards development for preventing and controlling all diseases of public health importance and health security events.

Baguio City has recorded 2,764 cases of gastroenteritis this month. Initial results of water testing showed evidence of contamination.

The Baguio City Public Information Office said a peak of cases was recorded on January 8. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.

Samples from 62 establishments, households, and institutions had been tested as of January 12 at the public health laboratory, and 18 were positive for total coliforms and eight for E. coli. A dozen positive coliform tests were from water delivery firms, and four were from food outlets.

Officials believe contaminated water is behind the illnesses but have yet to find the source of contamination.

Push to create a CDC agency
Other responsibilities of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control would include disease surveillance and field epidemiology activities, establishing and strengthening public health laboratories, and building local capacity for surveillance and health research.

The proposals also direct provinces, cities, and municipalities to adopt and localize standards that the CDC would develop. To build capacity for disease surveillance, local government units (LGUs) would be mandated to fund and establish epidemiology and surveillance units and create positions for disease surveillance officers and field epidemiologists.

In December 2022, members of the House of Representatives approved a bill to establish the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). The agency would be under the Department of Health (DOH). The next step is approval by the Senate.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, has also appealed to the Department of Health to help in the outbreak of acute gastroenteritis cases.

Go emphasized the need to identify the cause of the outbreak and ensure drinking water safety in affected areas. He called for the DOH to intensify its information drive, especially in schools and communities, and to identify and address any suspected contamination in drinking water sources.

The DOH has recommended boiling water for two minutes or using chlorine-based water disinfection solutions.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)

Cidrerie Milton is recalling Réserve Festive brand Strong Cider because of possible bursting bottles.

There is also concern about non-harmful microbial contamination in the product.

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), recalled products were distributed in Quebec, Canada.

Recalled products:

BrandProductSizeCodesUPCRéserve FestiveStrong Cider750 mlL241023L2510238 41125 07557 9

Consumers and retailers should not use, sell, serve or distribute the affected product.

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Pattison Food Group is recalling Urban Fare brand UF Chia Tropical Fruit Parfait and Yogurt Parfait from the marketplace because of possible Salmonella contamination. 

These products were made using granola recalled by Quaker Canada on Jan. 11, 2024.

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the products were distributed in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada.

Recalled products:

BrandProductSizeUPCCodesUrban FareUF Chia Tropical Fruit Parfait~385 g0 288779 908998All best before dates up to and including 2024/JA/19Urban FareYogurt Parfait330 g0 280385 706999All best before dates up to and including 2024/JA/18

As of the posting of this recall, there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Consumers should check to see if they have recalled products. They should not consume, serve, use, sell or distribute recalled products. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased.

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has consumed any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here)

Loblaw Companies Limited, Metro Ontario Inc. and Sobeys Inc. are recalling various products containing granola from the marketplace because of possible Salmonella contamination. 

These products were made using granola recalled by Quaker Canada on Jan. 11, 2024.

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the products were distributed nationally in Canada.

Recalled products:

BrandProductSizeUPCCodesAdditional InformationNone (Loblaw)Dragon Fruit Parfait250 gContains 244327All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA13Sold at the Loblaw banners in the list below and independent franchises in Western CanadaNone (Loblaw)Mango Parfait250 gContains 244326All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA13Sold at the Loblaw banners in the list below and independent franchises in Western CanadaNone (Loblaw)Blueberry Yogurt Parfait with Almond Granola260 gContains 234550All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA13Sold at the Loblaw banners in the list below and independent franchises in Western CanadaNone (Loblaw)Honey Greek Yogurt Parfait with Berry and Almond Granola295 gContains 255275All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA13Sold at the Loblaw banners in the list below and independent franchises in Western CanadaNone (Loblaw)Greek Yogurt Parfait with Acai and Almond Granola305 gContains 250145All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA13Sold at the Loblaw banners in the list below and independent franchises in Western CanadaNone (Loblaw)Acai Mixed with Berry Parfait and Almond Granola295 gContains 250131All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA13Sold at the Loblaw banners in the list below and independent franchises in Western CanadaNone (Loblaw)Yogurt Parfait Strawberry, “Blueberrie” and Almond Granola 295 gContains 252233All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA13Sold at the Loblaw banners in the list below and independent franchises in Western CanadaNone (Loblaw)Yogurt and Peach Parfait with Almond Granola255 gContains 250262All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA13Sold at the Loblaw banners in the list below and independent franchises in Western CanadaNone (Loblaw)Yogurt Raspberry Banana Parfait with Almond Granola 290 gContains 250148All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA13Sold at the Loblaw banners in the list below and independent franchises in Western CanadaNone (Loblaw)Yogurt and Strawberries Parfait with Almond Granola260 gContains 231027All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA13Sold at the Loblaw banners in the list below and independent franchises in Western Canada BrandProductSizeUPCCodesAdditional InformationNone (Loblaw)Acai Blend, Kiwi, Strawberry Parfait and Almond Granola300 gContains 250143All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA13Sold at the Loblaw banners in the list below and independent franchises in Western CanadaNone (Metro)Mixed Berry Yogurt Parfait w/Almonds328 gVariableAll codes sold up to and including January 12, 2024Sold at Metro stores in OntarioNone (Metro)Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Parfait w/Almonds328 gVariableAll codes sold up to and including January 12, 2024Sold at Metro stores in OntarioNone (Sobeys)Yogurt Bowl BananaVariablePLU 35281All best before dates up to and including 2024JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Atlantic, Ontario, and Western Canada in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Yogurt Bowl Mx BerryVariablePLU 35283All best before dates up to and including 2024JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Atlantic, Ontario, and Western Canada in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Nutty Yogurt BerryVariablePLU 54557All best before dates up to and including 2024JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Atlantic, Ontario, and Western Canada in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Nutty Greek Yogurt BowlVariablePLU 16349All best before dates up to and including 2024JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Atlantic, Ontario, and Western Canada in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Yogurt Bowl Plain With GranolaVariablePLU 35282All best before dates up to and including 2024JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Atlantic, Ontario, and Western Canada in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Yogurt Bowl StwbryVariablePLU 35285All best before dates up to and including 2024JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Atlantic, Ontario, and Western Canada in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Greek Yogurt BananaVariablePLU 45891All best before dates up to and including 2024JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Atlantic, Ontario, and Western Canada in the list below BrandProductSizeUPCCodesAdditional InformationNone (Sobeys)GRK Yog Bowl Mx BerryVariablePLU 46071All best before dates up to and including 2024JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Atlantic, Ontario, and Western Canada in the list belowNone (Sobeys)GRK Yog Bowl StwbryVariablePLU 46072All best before dates up to and including 2024JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Atlantic, Ontario, and Western Canada in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Greek Yogurt Bowl Plain With GranolaVariablePLU 46070All best before dates up to and including 2024JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Atlantic, Ontario, and Western Canada in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Yogurt Granola Fruit CupVariablePLU 54568All best before dates up to and including 2024JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Atlantic, Ontario, and Western Canada in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Greek Yogurt Fruit BowlVariablePLU 16352All best before dates up to and including 2024JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Atlantic, Ontario, and Western Canada in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Yogurt Bowl Banana~300 gPLU 22267All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Western Canada in the list below and wholesale accounts in AlbertaNone (Sobeys)Yogurt Bowl Mixed Berry~300 gPLU 21891All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Western Canada in the list below and wholesale accounts in AlbertaNone (Sobeys)Greek Yogurt Bowl Mixed Berry~300 gPLU 22268All best before dates up to and including 2024.JA15Sold at the Sobeys banners in Western Canada in the list below and wholesale accounts in AlbertaNone (Sobeys)Parfait S/Bry Granola280 gPLU 28231All best before dates up to and including 2024JA14Sold at the Sobeys banners in Quebec in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Parfait S/BryGran Sml170 gPLU 28233All best before dates up to and including 2024JA14Sold at the Sobeys banners in Quebec in the list below BrandProductSizeUPCCodesAdditional InformationNone (Sobeys)Parfait Rasp Granola280 gPLU 28235All best before dates up to and including 2024JA14Sold at the Sobeys banners in Quebec in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Parfait Mxd Bry Gran170 gPLU 28236All best before dates up to and including 2024JA14Sold at the Sobeys banners in Quebec in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Parfait Rasp Granola170 gPLU 28257All best before dates up to and including 2024JA14Sold at the Sobeys banners in Quebec in the list belowNone (Sobeys)Mxd Berry Gran Parf280 gPLU 29192All best before dates up to and including 2024JA14Sold at the Sobeys banners in Quebec in the list below

List of Loblaw banners:

• Atlantic: Atlantic Superstore, Dominion, Atlantic Your Independent Grocer, Wholesale Club
• Quebec: Provigo, Maxi, Wholesale Club
• Ontario: Superstore, Fortinos, Loblaw, Valu-Mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs
• Western Canada: Superstore, Your Independent Grocer, Extra Foods, Wholesale Club

List of Sobeys banners:

• Atlantic: Coop, Foodland, Sobeys
• Quebec: IGA, IGA Extra, IGA Express, IGA Mini, Tradition, Bonichoix, Bonisoir, Omni, Voisin, Rachelle-Béry
• Ontario: Foodland, Sobeys
• Western Canada: IGA, Safeway, Sobeys, Thrifty Foods

As of the posting of this recall, there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Consumers should check to see if they have recalled products. They should not consume, serve, use, sell or distribute recalled products. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased.

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has consumed any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

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Gentro Foods Inc. is recalling Eagle brand corn (frozen) from the marketplace because of possible Salmonella contamination.

This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results.

According to the CFIA, the products were distributed in Ontario, Canada and possibly other provinces and territories.

Recalled products:

BrandProductSizeUPCCodesEagleCorn (frozen)1.75 kg0 55722 96964 702/01/2025

As of the posting of this recall, there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled products from the marketplace.

Consumers should not consume, use, sell, serve or distribute recalled products.

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has consumed any of the recalled product and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about certain tejocote root supplements substituted with toxic yellow oleander.

FDA analysis has determined that certain dietary supplements labeled as tejocote (Crataegus mexicana) root because they were tested and found to be substituted with yellow oleander (Cascabela thevetia), a poisonous plant native to Mexico and Central America and a toxic substance of concern to public health officials.

Ingestion of yellow oleander can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse health effects that may be severe, or even fatal. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cardiac changes, dysrhythmia and more.

The FDA’s warning has prompted World Green Nutrition, Inc. to recall Elv Alipotec brand Mexican Tejocote Root Supplement Pieces (Raiz De Tejocote Mexicano Suplemento En Trozos), NET. WT, 0.3 0Z (7g), due to the presence of yellow oleander in the product. The full recall can be found here.

The products subject to the warning are typically sold online through third-party platforms.

Tested Products:

To date, the FDA has tested 9 samples, representing the 9 different products listed below, and found them to contain yellow oleander. Tejocote root dietary supplements that were sampled and determined by the FDA to be substituted with toxic yellow oleander:

SELLING FIRMBRANDWEBSITE PURCHASED FROMPRODUCTAmazon.comAlipotec Tejocote RootNutraholics ELV Tejocote RootELV Nutraholics Mexican Tejocote RootELVPOTEC Tejocote RootAmazon.comGlobal Mix, Inc.Science of Alpha Mexican Tejocote RootNiwali Raiz de TejocoteEtsy.comInnovacion Natural, LLCAlipotec Tejocote RootInnovacionnatural.comPastor-Villareal, Inc. TejocotexAmazon.comAlipotec South TXWorld Green Nutrition, Inc.ELV Alipotec Raiz de Tejocotealipotecus.com

The FDA is advising consumers to stop using and dispose of these products.

The FDA advises consumers who have taken any of these products of concern to contact their health care provider immediately.  Even if these products have not been used recently, consumers should still inform their health care provider about which product they took, so that an appropriate evaluation may be conducted.

Call 9-1-1 or get emergency medical help right away if you or someone in your care has serious side effects from these products. Contact your healthcare provider if you or someone in your care recently ingested these products and have health concerns. Consumers can also contact the state poison control center.

Background:

In Sept. 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report of several tejocote root products found to be substituted with toxic yellow oleander. Based on this report, the FDA initiated an investigation to sample and test additional tejocote root products. To date, the FDA has tested 9 samples, representing the 9 different products listed above, and found them to contain yellow oleander. Additional sample analysis is pending.

Based on the FDA’s sampling and testing results thus far, the FDA is also concerned that other products marketed as tejocote (including with other names such as Crataegus mexicana, Raiz de Tejocote, and Mexican Hawthorn) may contain yellow oleander. Consuming yellow oleander can cause severe adverse health effects and be potentially fatal.

The FDA is actively working with the third-party platforms where these products are sold.

The FDA’s investigation is ongoing, and the FDA will continue to provide information on any further actions as it becomes available. Products may be added to this advisory. The FDA is working to further address the concerns related to these products and monitoring the market for adverse events, product complaints, and other emerging issues.

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Two bills introduced into the Arizona Legislature may signal that the 2024 sessions of those “Laboratories of Democracy” will be something of an “alt-meat” grinder.

Arizona State Rep. David Marshall, R-Snowflake, and four co-sponsors have introduced House Bill 2121, prohibiting cell-cultured animal products.

HB2121 prohibits anyone in Arizona from offering to sell or produce a cell-cultured animal product for human consumption. The state is authorized to impose a civil penalty on violators of not more than $25,000 in addition to attorney fees and costs with total actual damages not to exceed $100,000.

Further, bill BB2121 allows a “person or organization whose business is adversely affected by a violation” to file a civil action for declaratory and injunctive relief and actual damages “against the person that violates this section.”

The bill defines “cell-cultured animal products” as “any cultured animal tissue produced from in vitro animal cell cultures outside of the organism from which it is derived.”

The bill says HB2121 is “a matter to statewide concern necessary to protect public health.”

A second bill, HB2244, sponsored by Rep. Huang Nguyen, R-Prescott Valley, has also been introduced but only to limit lab-grown meat from fooling consumers. Nguyen’s bill makes it illegal to intentionally misrepresent a product not derived from livestock or poultry as actually being meat.

Legislative findings in HB2121 are not likely to go over well with venture capitalists funding cell-based labs.  The findings include:
1. The regulation of cell-cultured animal products is a matter of statewide concern necessary to protect public health.
2. This state’s cattle ranching industry is integral to its history, culture, values, and economy.
3. Cattle is one of the five foundational pillars that have driven this state’s economy since the territorial days.
4. The production and sale of lab-grown, cell-cultured animal-product threatens to harm this state’s trust land beneficiaries and the highest and best use of state trust land, which includes the lease of state lands to ranchers for livestock grazing to fund public schools and other public institutions.

5. This act is necessary to protect this state’s sovereign interests, history, economy, and food heritage.

Since 2019, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and FDA have jointly agreed to regulate lab-grown meat for safety.  Since 2022, both agencies have approved applications for lab-grown products.

Not so quick with food safety approvals is the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which has not yet received a cell-cultured meat proposal. A proposal would have to go through EFSA’s novel food review, which might be more rigorous than what FSIS and FDA are doing in the United States.

In the meantime, Italy has banned cultivated meat production to protect its traditions.   The ban was adopted by the Italian Parliament, 159 to the 53.

“Italy is the world’s first country safe from the social and economic risks of synthetic food,” said the country’s Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida.

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Beef and lamb on sale in Sweden are a common source of human exposure to potentially pathogenic Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), based on findings from a study.

The work summarized the results of four surveys from different periods, which looked at the occurrence and characteristics of STEC in beef, lamb, and leafy greens on the Swedish market.

According to scientists in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, such data is required when assessing the public health risk of varying types of STEC in different foods and establishing risk management measures.

The occurrence of STEC was investigated in 477 samples of beef, 330 samples of lamb, and 630  samples of leafy greens. The detection of virulence genes such as Shiga toxin (stx) 1, stx2, and eae was performed. All STEC isolated from food samples was further characterized through whole genome sequencing.

STEC was isolated from 2 to 14 percent beef samples and 20 percent to 61 percent lamb samples, depending on the origin. STEC was not isolated from leafy greens, although stx genes were detected in 11 samples.

Imported products less compliant
Five of the 151 sequenced STEC isolates from meat contained stx2 and eae, and four had the stx2a subtype. This gene is strongly associated with severe human diseases, especially with the ease gene.

Isolates from beef belonged to 20 serotypes, including O22:H8, O26:H11, O157:H7, and O171:H2. Isolates from lamb belonged to 28 types, of which O91:H14 was the most common, followed by O128:H2 and O174:H8. Two beef and lamb isolates were O157 and contained genes for stx2 and eae.

STEC was rare in whole meat samples of domestic beef in the Swedish retail market, whereas such bacteria were frequently found in ground (minced) meat and whole meat samples of imported beef and domestic and imported lamb.

Three hundred domestic beef samples were taken from 2015 to 2016, and STEC was isolated six times. Seventeen of 135 samples of EU-imported beef were positive from 2010 to 2011, and STEC was detected in six of 42 samples from South America in the same time period. E. coli O157 was found twice—three samples from imported beef contained two or three variants of STEC isolates.

41 of 95 samples for domestic lamb were STEC positive from 2017 to 2018. In the same period, 36 of 59 imported EU samples and 30 of 149 samples, mainly from New Zealand, were also positive. STEC O157 was detected once, and 16 samples contained two different STEC isolates. No STEC was isolated from domestic, imported, or mixed-origin leafy greens in 2012 and 2013.

All analyses were performed at the Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket), except for the sample preparation for domestic beef, which was done by the National Veterinary Institute (SVA).

Belgian Listeria situation
In Belgium, another study published in the same journal looked at Listeria monocytogenes in pre-packed, plant-based ready-to-eat food with a shelf life of more than five days.

Products were vegetarian and vegan deli sandwich slices, fresh mixes of leafy vegetables, and multi-ingredient salad bowls.

During a retail survey, Listeria monocytogenes was detected in one of 51 vegetarian and vegan deli sandwich slices and six of 48 batches of multi-ingredient salad bowls. However, levels were below ten colony-forming units per gram (CFU/g).

Challenge tests were performed to determine the growth potential of Listeria in nine pre-packed, plant-based RTE food products. In six tests, growth was supported.

Researchers evaluated data from 2017 to 2022, including notifications, recalls, and outbreaks linking Listeria with such foods. They also determined the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes with a literature review and used monitoring results from the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC).

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The number of incidents involving a global food safety network dropped slightly in the third quarter of 2023.

The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) was part of 46 alerts from July to September 2023, down from 53 in the second and 47 in the first quarters.

Of 32 biological hazard incidents, a dozen were because of Salmonella, and ten were because of Listeria monocytogenes. Three were caused by Clostridium botulinum; Bacillus cereus and Shigella were listed twice, while E. coli, Norovirus, and Staphylococcus aureus all caused one.

INFOSAN is managed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Hot chip challenge
Two chemical hazards involved capsaicin and chlorpyrifos. Eight mentioned an undeclared allergen or ingredient, and four were from a physical hazard such as plastic, metal, or stones.

The capsaicin alert was because of the Paqui “one chip” social media challenge. The chip contains capsaicin, a compound found in chili peppers. The challenge involves eating the spicy chip and waiting as long as possible before consuming something else.

Paqui, a subsidiary of The Hershey Company, announced the removal of the product from shelves in September 2023 following the death of teenager Harris Wolobah. The cause of Wolobah’s death remains under investigation but was linked to the challenge. A notice on the European Commission’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) lists more than 20 affected countries, including Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Food categories commonly named in incidents during the third quarter of 2023 were composite food, meat and meat products, and vegetables and vegetables.

Fish and other seafood; fruit and fruit products; snacks, desserts, and other foods; herbs, spices, and condiments; milk and dairy products; nuts and oil seeds; eggs and egg products; cereals and cereal-based products; non-alcoholic drinks; and sugar and confectionery were also mentioned in alerts.

Overall, 41 percent of incidents were reported to INFOSAN by network members, 35 percent were communicated via RASFF, and 24 percent through various other WHO channels.

Meeting highlights
INFOSAN highlighted the foodborne botulism outbreak that affected 16 people in Bordeaux in September 2023. Sick people came from Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

All patients ate the same product, homemade preserved sardines in jars, at the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar restaurant in Bordeaux. Sardine samples from five jars tested positive for type B Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) and type B Clostridium botulinum. 

INFOSAN, WHO, FAO and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) organized a virtual regional meeting in November.

The event gathered INFOSAN members from member states in the Americas, including Emergency Contact Points (ECPs) and the National Focal Points for the International Health Regulations. The focus was on implementing the regional strategy to strengthen INFOSAN in the Americas and aimed to enhance national abilities to manage food safety emergencies effectively.

FAO, WHO, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Korea held a hybrid meeting in December.

The event included INFOSAN members from the WHO regions of South-East Asia and the Western Pacific. The aim was to facilitate information exchange, share experiences, and develop INFOSAN national action plans to enhance food safety emergency response in the region.

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— OPINION —

During my time at Marler Clark, I have had the chance to witness and work on some of the most tragic and profoundly disturbing foodborne illness outbreaks our firm has encountered. 

Here are a few of the recent, particularly alarming outbreaks—some of which I had extensive involvement with—presented in no particular order:

• The baby food outbreaks: Infant formula shortage and cinnamon applesauce contaminated with lead

The 2022 Infant Formula crisis left a lasting impact on caregivers nationwide. It all began with an FDA investigation, prompted by reports linking powdered infant formula products manufactured by Abbott Nutrition to severe infections in children. The FDA conducted an onsite inspection of Abbott’s Sturgis, MI, facility and uncovered insanitary conditions, including the presence of the bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii. In response, Abbott voluntarily recalled the implicated products, triggering immediate and far-reaching consequences. An acute shortage of infant formula swept across the country, causing significant worry and distress among parents and caregivers. Online support communities, like the Facebook group “Baby Formula Search and Swap: Parents Helping Parents,” emerged, and platforms such as “Find my Baby Formula” were created to track and alert users about formula availability. Notably, the Biden-Harris Administration took steps to address this unprecedented formula shortage, highlighting the gravity and broad impact of the situation. Tragically, this outbreak claimed the lives of two infants.

The 2023 outbreak tied to WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis brand cinnamon applesauce garnered significant attention because of the alarming discovery of exceedingly high levels of lead in their products. Lead poses grave health risks, especially for children. Even minute concentrations, as low as 0.035 parts per million (ppm), could impact children’s intelligence and behavior, per the World Health Organization. Elevated lead exposure can cause irreversible damage to the brain and central nervous system, leading to coma and death. The FDA’s investigation and subsequent sample testing revealed lead levels in the apple puree at 2.18 ppm, surpassing the maximum recommended limit by more than 200 times. Austrofood, the producer of the applesauce, acknowledged cinnamon from Negasmart as the likely source of the contamination. One of the cinnamon samples revealed an exceptionally high lead level of 5,110 ppm. In a more recent development, on Jan. 5 the FDA detected chromium, another metal contaminant, in Austrofood’s cinnamon, measuring at 1201 and 531 ppm. This ongoing outbreak has affected at least 86 individuals thus far, most of them infants and children. In addition to the 86 cases confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are additional reports of 209 probable cases and 26 suspected cases. Also, as of Jan. 8 the Food and Drug Administration had received 87 confirmed complaints/reports of adverse events linked to the cinnamon applesauce. Some of those reports overlap with numbers from the CDC, so the counts should not be added together.

• The world’s deadliest outbreak of listeriosis

In 2017 and 2018, South Africa faced the world’s largest and deadliest outbreak of listeriosis. The Health Minister identified Tiger Brands’ polony—a ready-to-eat, processed meat product—as the culprit and ordered an immediate recall in December 2017.

This outbreak affected multiple South African provinces, with Gauteng reporting 58 percent of cases, mainly among women aged from birth to 93. Between January 2017 and July 2018, there were 1,060 reported cases and 216 fatalities. The term “reported” is key here, as numerous affected individuals resided in rural areas with limited access to healthcare. Additionally, listeriosis was not categorized as a reportable disease in South Africa until after the outbreak, hampering data collection even from diagnosed hospital cases. 

Listeriosis, a severe foodborne bacterial illness, poses significant risks to pregnant women, individuals older than 65, and those with weakened immune systems. With a high fatality rate of 25 percent, it is associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature labor. The impact on infants and children among the 216 fatalities in this outbreak was particularly devastating, underscoring the vulnerability of this demographic.

• The recurring, ongoing outbreaks: Romaine lettuce, sprouts, and cantaloupe

This trio needs no introduction. Since 2018, there have been close to a dozen outbreaks involving leafy greens — many linked to romaine lettuce — three outbreaks related to sprouts, and at least three outbreaks associated with cut melon or cut cantaloupe. I make a conscious effort to avoid these foods because of their frequent appearance on the FDA’s list of ongoing investigations.

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The number of horses likely being exported for slaughter has not dropped off anywhere near enough for animal activists. It is believed that Mexican slaughter plants during 2023 took 17,997 horses from Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, according to the non-governmental organization Animal Wellness Action. The Washington D.C.-based group says: “This was the  most significant annual percentage increase of live exports since 2012.”

It says final numbers are not yet available for live exports to Canada.

The horse slaughter business in the United States effectively ended in 2007. In most years since then, appropriations acts have prohibited the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using federal funds to inspect horses before they are slaughtered for human consumption. 

Therefore, there are currently no USDA-inspected horse slaughter facilities in the U.S., meaning no equine products are available for human consumption.

Animal Wellness Action is pointing to the jump in horses being exported to Mexico as the reason to halt any export of live horses and other equids to Mexico and Canada for slaughter for consumption. They argue that such language should be included in the Farm Bill or a major spending bill.

“We are sounding the alarm to Congress that healthy American horses are being butchered in a secretive, inhumane trade to Mexico,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. “Not one more year of this trafficking of these iconic animals should be tolerated. The animal welfare community and the Thoroughbred racing industry are united in demanding an end to this archaic, miserable, sickening trade.”

In December, New York joined California, Texas, and Illinois — four of the five most significant states in the nation — in forbidding the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

However, the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act — to codify a ban on the slaughter of horses in the United States and to ban live exports has picked up a lot of co-sponsors —226 to be exact — without really moving much.

Elements of the SAFE Act include:

—Permanently prohibits the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.

—Prohibits a person from knowingly

• slaughtering an equine for human consumption or
• shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption.

—Violators would be subject to fines.

—The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony.

“If it is wrong to slaughter horses in Dallas or Yuma or DeKalb, it is wrong to slaughter them in cities in Calgary or Quebec City,” added Pacelle. Congress has approved the domestic ban on horse slaughter through the appropriations process for nearly 15 consecutive years. In 2021, the House unanimously passed a ban on live exports of equines.

 Testing of slaughtered horses bound for Mexico found drug residues in horse meat unfit for human consumption. 

The number of horses shipped to Mexico from Texas increased from 13,081 in 2022 to 13,725 in 2023. 

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